It's only one running replica and quarter-scaled model were left

Replica ONLY To produce a car model, usually, the auto manufacturer must go through many stages, starting from a concept design development to making a decision to produce it or not. Well, at the design development stage, manufacturers usually also make several models of the car concept in several sizes ranging from small to 1: 1 for a series of tests and or also used as a promotional model to see the public interest on being worked model.

1956 Pontiac Club de Mer concept car (in pictured replica model by Marty Martino) launched for the first time to public at the GM's Motorama Show. (Picture from: Carscoops)

The same thing was done by the American automotive giant, General Motors who had made several famous future concept cars. They make these concept cars as a basis for producing cars in the future. Including something created based on one of their other brands, due to the manufacturer houses multiple car brands.

1956 Pontiac Club de Mer Concept is said the perfect setting for its resort club image. (Picture from: CarDesignNews)

And the Pontiac Club de Mer Concept may be one example made by Pontiac in 1956 and launched for the first time at the General Motors Motorama Show at the time, and sat along with its sibling, Oldsmobile Golden Rocket. This futuristic concept car creation embodies Harley Earl's design ideas, then translated and brought up by Paul Gillian, the Pontiac design chief then.

The Pontiac Club de Mer published on the 1956 GM Motorama's brochures. (Picture from: AMKlassiek)

As quoted of Wikipedia, it was a two-door sports roadster that incorporated innovative breakthrough styling like a sleek, low-profile body encasing a large engine, a design trend used widely in LSR (land speed record) trials at Bonneville Salt Flats in Utah during the 1950s. The overall its body styling was a smooth, non-undulating profile, similar to an American supersonic jet fighter, with virtually no protrusions or recesses of any kind save for the out-vents on the leading edge of both doors, and the fin. 

This reproduction version of 1956 Pontiac Club de Mer Concept's interior is faithful insisted to the original design. (Picture from: CarDesignNews)

The vehicle had no bumpers, a common feature on most concepts, and the door handles were quite small and also had a very low profile at just under 990.6 mm (39 inches). The concept car's exterior was inspired by contemporary aircraft designs at the time, using a stainless steel monocoque, individual windscreens similar to those on the 1955 Lincoln Futura (later TV's Batmobile), an aerodynamically fashioned fascia that flowed down from the hood skin to cover most of the grill, concealed headlights, and a single rear-deck dorsal fin.

1956 Pontiac Club de Mer concept (in pictured replica model by Marty Martino) was inspired by contemporary aircraft designs at the time. (Picture from: AMKlassiek)

While its interior styling had a barebones functionality to it, but it is still much better than the production vehicles available in showrooms at the time. Instruments were low key, with triangularly configured gauges mounted well behind a three-spoke, GT-style steering wheel, around the steering column. The speedometer was positioned on top, and a smaller gauge on either side, each enclosed in its own pod. The interior was finished in red, while passengers gained entry through conventional doors. 

1956 Pontiac Club de Mer (front) sat along with the Oldsmobile Golden Rocket at the 1956 Motorama. (Picture from: CarDesignNews)

It is known that only one Club de Mer prototype (actually just a rolling model) was ever constructed and unveiled in Miami, Florida, along with another ¼-scale model. But then, the only prototype was scrapped out by GM in 1958 as part of the company's policy for any concept vehicles it deemed had expired and no longer profitable. And only its ¼-scale model exists todays was owned by Joseph Bortz of Illinois until it sold to noted car collector Ron Pratt at the 2007 Barrett-Jackson Classic Car Auction for $75,000.

However, there is another life-sized Pontiac Club de Mer replica in mint shape and fully functional ones. This running replica built by Marty Martino back in the 2000s, based on a 1959 Pontiac chassis and powered by the 1959 Strato Streak engine mated to the Jetaway Hydro-Matic 4-speed transmission. It took three years to complete and sold at auction in 2009 for $110,000. *** [EKA [15092020] | FROM VARIOUS SOURCES | BARRET-JACKSON | WIKIPEDIA | CARSCOOPS  | AMKLASSIEK]

Note: This blog  can be accessed via your smart phone

Kindly Bookmark and Share it: